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Miami Herald
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Alcantara, Cabrera both in top 30 of ESPN's top MLB trade prospects
Before their appearances on the mound versus the San Diego Padres on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, Edward Cabrera and Sandy Alcantara's trade rumors continue to swirl around the league. In ESPN's most recent trade deadline predictions, both Marlins pitchers cracked the top 30 most likely to be dealt — Alcantara landing at No. 4 and Cabrera at No. 18. But Marlins teammate and All-Star Kyle Stowers said they try not to let the speculation get to them on the field. 'Obviously, it's a part of the business,' Stowers said. 'But I think it can be more exhausting to try to play the hypotheticals... At the end of the day, what's going to happen will happen.' Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner, has consistently struggled this season, raising questions about his future with the team. After his most recent start against the Kansas City Royals on Friday, his ERA lands at a whopping 7.14, and his inconsistency has fueled the speculation surrounding his name. ESPN currently gives him a 50% chance of being traded, a number that seemed unthinkable just a season ago. 'He has been tinkering this season to try to get his pitch mix and locations right in hopes of regaining his former glory,' wrote ESPN insiders Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan. Cabrera, on the other hand, has been a bright spot in an otherwise up-and-down Marlins rotation. Despite dealing with minor injuries and making three fewer starts than Alcantara, he's posted a 3.61 ERA and leads the team with 86 strikeouts. ESPN pegs his trade likelihood at 30%, but with a fastball topping out at 97 mph and a diverse pitch mix that troubles both lefties and righties, he's seen as one of the more valuable young arms on the market. For the Marlins, they could get a serious payout for him with three more years under team control. 'Cabrera has premium stuff, and he's got a lot of weapons,' General Manager Clayton McCullough said earlier this season. With just days remaining before the trade deadline, the upcoming series against the Padres could play a critical role in determining both pitchers' futures. Their performances could raise — or lower — their trade value. Either way, this could very well be the last time we see Cabrera and Alcantara wearing a Marlins uniform.
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 MLB power rankings: Cubs lead Central surge; 2nd-half questions for every team
The small-market Brewers traveled to Los Angeles to start the second half and greeted the free-spending Dodgers the same way they did before the break in Milwaukee, once again pulverizing the club with the sport's highest payroll. The Brewers have now won 10 straight games, including all six of their matchups against the Dodgers in that span, and are suddenly tied with the division-rival Cubs for the best record in the National League. At a time when competitive balance is being called into question, the Brewers continue to serve as a beacon and blueprint for the thrifty at at ime when many of Major League Baseball's top clubs have hit a snag. The Dodgers have lost 10 of their last 12 games, the TIgers have dropped six of seven, and the Astros have lost seven of nine. So, where does that leave them all? Below are the latest MLB power rankings, including one looming second-half question for every squad. Are we about to see back-to-back seasons of MLB infamy? The Rockies have been more competitive of late, but they're on pace to win just 39 games, which is two fewer than the 2024 White Sox's record-setting mark of ineptitude. Is this the year Luis Robert Jr. finds a new team? He has looked a lot better in July, and outfield-needy teams might choose to focus on the upside rather than what they saw from the 27-year-old through the first three months of the year. The skipper's already out…how much further does the teardown go? Paul Skenes could be the first starting pitcher to win a full-season Cy Young Award with fewer than 10 wins and a losing record. The Pirates and their futile offense have now lost 11 of their last 12 games. The Juan Soto trade gave this team a strong base of young talent. Can anyone else emerge as an essential piece of the next great Nationals team? Will the AL Rookie of the Year race come down to teammates Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz? Is there still time to make a second-half push? Even if the offense finds its way, the pitching injuries may be too impactful to overcome. How different does this team look after the deadline? The O's have a plethora of rental players who should be calling a new place home soon. Among many interesting teams who could go either way at the deadline, do the Royals continue pushing in on this season to try to jumpstart the offense? Or could we see Seth Lugo pitching in a different team's playoff rotation in October? Can this offense continue to defy expectations? The Marlins, nearly 100 games in, are stunningly in third place and three games up on the Braves. Their offense, which ranks ninth in batting average is one reason why. What do they get out of Royce Lewis and Carlos Correa the rest of the way? It's hard to imagine the Twins accomplishing much when those two sluggers are both hitting below league average. An elite bullpen was this team's calling card as it reached the ALCS last year. Could a deadline teardown lead to some of those top relievers pitching elsewhere? Two years ago, the Angels hovered slightly above .500 when they decided to buy rather than get something for Shohei Ohtani in his final year with the club. (That did not go so well.) Now close to .500 again with the deadline approaching, and with a farm system that could desperately use a boost, what does Arte Moreno choose to do? The Cardinals did virtually nothing over the offseason other than announce their intentions to trade Nolan Arenado, which did not end up happening. After playing better than many expected, will this deadline be defined by inactivity as well? Or could we see Arenado (or Ryan Helsley and others) playing somewhere else? Are they the team that shakes up the trade deadline? Or do they think their offense is good enough to play this out? With Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor all approaching free agency, the D-backs could determine how wild this deadline gets. Can Rafael Devers eventually jumpstart this lineup? It hasn't happened yet. Along those same lines, can the Rangers' offense wake up in time? If I told you they'd have the best ERA in MLB 100 games in, you'd probably be preparing Globe Life Field to host another World Series. Instead, the Rangers are 3.5 games out of the playoff picture with decisions to make about their direction over the next 10 days. This seems to be a bit of a theme in this section of the rankings, but do they have enough offense to make a run? Elly De La Cruz has looked more like the MVP contender many expected to see of late, but he needs help. How do the Rays handle the visitor's life down the stretch? They've been a .500 team away from Steinbrenner Field this year, and 37 of their final 62 games will come on the road. Will Cal Raleigh challenge Aaron Judge for MVP (and post the best season by a catcher ever)? And, more importantly for their playoff hopes, will their rotation be healthy enough to get where they hope to go? The Mariners haven't won the AL West since 2001, but the division is again up for grabs. How does AJ Preller add depth at the deadline? The Padres' bullpen has put the club in playoff position, but the team needs more offensive help. I'd expect Preller to be active. After shipping Devers off, the Red Sox ended the first half as one of the hottest teams in baseball. But is there enough pitching and defense on this squad to emerge from the crowded and competitive AL East? Craig Breslow might need to address those areas at the deadline. Can they slug their way to a division title? I expect them to be as aggressive as any team at the deadline to address their pitching and infield deficiencies. If they don't, there may be an overreliance on an offense that has been the most powerful in baseball. Which version of the pitching staff do the Mets get the rest of the way? They currently boast the best ERA in the National League, but the group has regressed of late — a plethora of injuries haven't helped — and might need reinforcements to remain among the league leaders by season's end. What does this bullpen look like after the deadline? It's the clearest area of need after José Alvarado's 80-game suspension. Will Mookie Betts find his way? The top of the Dodgers' vaunted lineup loses some of its luster when the eight-time All-Star is a below league-average hitter. Can they withstand all their injuries to keep their dynasty alive? They made their march to the top of the AL West with Yordan Alvarez and most of their rotation on the shelf. Now, All-Stars Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes are hurt, too, but a lot of their top pieces appear to be nearing a return. Can the supporting cast keep this up? From Alejandro Kirk to Addison Barger to Davis Schneider to Yariel Rodriguez to Brendon Little, they're getting a plethora of positive contributions during their steady ascension. Can they challenge the Cubs for a division title? They pitch well, they run well, they're fast, they're young, and they have a bevy of above-average offensive pieces. They basically do everything well, aside from hit for power, which hasn't hindered them on their 10-game winning streak. Overlook them (again) at your own peril. Will the players having resurgent years — from Javier Báez to Spencer Torkelson to Gleyber Torres to Casey Mize — all keep it going? Their talented farm system could help land them more depth at the deadline. How far all-in do they push? They have a share of the best record in the NL, their offense is as dynamic as any group in baseball, and they traded for one season of Kyle Tucker. For the last reason alone, this club should be active at the deadline — a difference-making rotation piece, perhaps? — in an effort to win now. Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner . recommended Item 1 of 2 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Paul Skenes tries to lift skidding Pirates against MLB's best in Tigers
July 21 - Coming off his second consecutive start in the All-Star Game, Pirates ace Paul Skenes will oppose Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty as he tries to get his squad back on track on Monday night in Pittsburgh. Skenes (4-8, 2.01 ERA) will aim to continue his bid for the National League's Cy Young Award while trying to pull Pittsburgh out of its worst stretch of this season. The Pirates have lost three in a row since the All-Star break and 11 of their past 12 games. The Tigers still own the best record in the majors entering Monday's game with 60 wins, but they have been struggling of late. Detroit's 2-1 victory at Texas on Sunday night snapped a season-worst six-game losing streak. But the Tigers scored only three runs in the three-game series against the Rangers and nearly squandered another strong start from All-Star ace Tarik Skubal. Detroit will turn to Flaherty (5-9, 4.65), who is familiar with the Pirates from his days pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals and had plenty of success against them in his career. Flaherty is 10-1 with a 2.75 ERA in 16 career starts and 17 appearances overall against Pittsburgh. But the Tigers need to get Flaherty going again, as he has not picked up a win since June 8. In his most recent start on July 13 against Seattle, Flaherty allowed two runs on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over five innings. "You kind of stumble into the (All-Star) break a bit, however you want to put it," Flaherty said after getting a no-decision against the Mariners. "Myself, I could have thrown a bit better in the first half, but you wipe the slate clean and move forward." Skenes pitched a scoreless first inning for the National League this past Tuesday, which included strikeouts of two Detroit All-Stars, Gleyber Torres and Riley Greene to lead off the game. Skenes will now turn his attention to winning a Cy Young while his team looks for any positives down the stretch of what appears to be another losing season. Skenes, who finished third in the Cy Young voting during his NL Rookie of the Year season last year, has struck out 131 batters in 121 innings. The Pirates have been keeping an eye on his innings as Skenes hasn't pitched more than five in his past four starts. "That's why we're doing these shorter starts -- hopefully to set me up well to come out strong in the second half and continue to take on volume," Skenes said after his most recent outing on July 11 when he allowed two runs on five hits and struck out six over five innings in a 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins. Although Detroit is struggling to produce runs of late, Skenes has faced a lack of run support for most of the 2025 season when he's been on the mound. Skenes is tied with teammate Mitch Keller for the least run support of any NL regular starting pitcher with 2.54 runs per game, according to Detroit shortstop Javier Baez exited Sunday's game in the sixth inning. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch didn't elaborate much as to why, but told reporters after the game that Baez "wasn't feeling right." --Field Level Media
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Fanatics Sports Promo: Grab up to $300 in Guaranteed Bonus Bets for MLB, NBA & More
Garrett Crochet became one of MLB's best pitchers last year with the Chicago White Sox. Today, he's back in the Windy City as the Boston Red Sox ace asked to shut down the Chicago Cubs. If you're intrigued about what's happening at Wrigley Field or any other ballpark, this is the perfect day to take advantage of the Fanatics Sportsbook promo that delivers bunches of bonus bets or No Sweat Bets to you. Here's the scoop: If you're a new bettor in Michigan, New Jersey or Pennsylvania, you're guaranteed $300 in bonus bets just for playing $30 in first bets over a three-day span. If you're a new bettor in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia or West Virginia, you're ensured $250 in bonus bets if you play a $10 first bet each day for five days in a row. New bettors in every state — except New York — are allowed to trigger the classic Fanatics Sportsbook offer that generates up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets over a 10-day stretch. New bettors playing in New York are taken care of, too. They get to play one 100% profit-boost token each day for 10 straight days. Anyway, let's get back to Crochet. His stats heading into today's game are amazingly similar to reigning Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, who's regarded as the best pitcher on the planet. Crochet owns a 10-4 record, a 2.23 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 129 innings. Skubal, who happens to be pitching against the Texas Rangers tonight, sits at 10-3 with a 2.23 ERA and 151 whiffs in 121 innings. Make sure to check the Fanatics Sportsbook app — one of the nation's most comprehensive sports betting apps — to see all the ways you can play on each MLB game. Goodness knows you'll be able to play on plenty of MLB games with all the bonus bets or No Sweat Bets you'll accumulate with the Fanatics Sportsbook promo. To get started, tap any BET NOW button and answer a few basic questions to activate one of the most lucrative sportsbook promos around. Fanatics Sportsbook Promo: Score Up to $300 Bonus or $1000 in No Sweat Bets After racing on unconventional courses the last two weeks in Chicago and Sonoma, Calif., NASCAR gets back to a classic track today with the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Dover Motor Speedway. Take a peek at the Fanatics Sportsbook app to see the odds on pre-race favorites Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney. Fanatics Sportsbook has been ahead of the curve offering odds on which team will win the NBA Summer League championship. That championship game happens tonight in Las Vegas, but there are also two games leading up to the title game. Discover all the ways you can play on the NBA — even in July — on the Fanatics Sportsbook app. It takes just two minutes to sign up for an account when you use the Fanatics Sportsbook promo. Hit any BET NOW button, handle a few questions and then start plotting how you'll use all your bonus bets, No Sweat Bets or 100% profit-boost tokens. How to Unlock the Fanatic Sports Promo Welcome Offers In just a few simple steps you can lock in your Fanatics Sportsbook promo. The Fanatics Sportsbook promo bet-and-get offers require a $10 qualifying bet on odds of -500 or better. In MI, NJ and PA, that qualifying bet returns $100 in bonus bets each day for three days. In AZ, CO, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, NC, OH, TN, VA and WV, the $10 qualifying wager earns $50 in bonus bets each day for five days. If you choose either of these options, you will be automatically opted-in on Day 1 but you must opt-in manually on the subsequent days. Those in DC, IA, KS, KY, VT and WY, plus those in the above listed states, can get the No Sweat Bets offer instead of the bet-and-get offer can chose any bet at -500 odds or better to be your No Sweat Bet for up to $100 daily over a 10-day period. If that wager settles as a loss, Fanatics will provide a bonus-bet refund. Bettors in New York get a 100% profit boost daily for 10 days. Bonus bets provided by any of the Fanatics Sportsbook promo offers will be deposited within 72 hours of placing your qualifying bet. Divide up your bonus bets however you choose but use them within seven days of being deposited before they expire.
4 days ago
- Sport
Kyle Stowers hits 2-run walk-off homer in 10th to give the Marlins an 8-7 win over the Royals
MIAMI -- Kyle Stowers hit a two-run walk-off homer in the 10th inning and finished with three hits as the Miami Marlins defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-7 on Friday night. Stowers had already tied a Marlins franchise record with his fourth home run in two games when he hit a three-run shot in the first inning. After Miami had built — then squandered — a 5-0 lead, the first-time All-Star followed with the biggest swing of the game against Carlos Estévez (4-3) that sent the winning shot 394 feet to right field. Stowers went 3 for 5 and reached base in his first two at-bats to extend his on-base streak to 10 plate appearances, also tying a club record. Adam Frazier entered as a pinch-hitter in the 10th and drove in automatic runner Jonathan India and Bobby Witt Jr, who had reached on an infield single. Frazier doubled to right off Lake Bachar (5-0) to give Kansas City the lead entering the bottom half. In the Marlins' 10th, Agustín Ramírez drove in automatic runner Derek Hill with a single before Stowers' walk-off. Kansas City had erased a five-run deficit with a four-run fourth against Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 Cy Young Award winner who hasn't quite returned to form since missing the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery. Alcantara gave up hits to three of the first four batters he faced in the inning. John Rave then went deep off the Marlins veteran for his first major league home run, pulling his team within a run. Rave hit the tying homer in the ninth off Calvin Faucher to send the game to extra innings. Stowers' walk-off in the 10th was the second walk-off homer of his career. Miami has seven walk-off victories this season.
